Thread: 6mm Veil vs Lurex Veil in Movement

I have a standard rectangle lurex veil and a silk 9mm veil. I really like how the 9mm moves vs. my lurex. I think my lurex is kinda floppy.

I want to explore other veil weights. I was wondering how a 6mm silk veil moves in comparison? I'm sure both veils are light, but does the silk make a difference some how? Are both veils about as easy to manipulate?

I've tried out a 5mm from a workshop booth, but never bought one. Wasn't sure as it seems to stick to me.

Five and 6mm veils are very floaty and take a certain amount of finesse to handle, which I lack, heh, heh, heh. I'm in love with my 8mm as it's a good all purpose weight and it doesn't collapse as easily on turns and it catches the air nicely. The heavier weight works for me as I can feel the edges easier. Another point: hems. If you put a rolled hem on your 'working' long edge you'll have an easier time feeling for it (a trick from my teacher). I've tried dancing with other fabrics and NOTHING dances like silk!

Silk is VERY different from lurex or chiffon. I dance with them very differently -- silk is for floating, moving slowly, painting on the air.

Lurex or chiffon are for moving behind, opening and closing, hiding and revealing. Both are good for spinning and for framing.

I like the VERY lightweight veils (5mm) for dancing in crowded restuarants -- it's easy to keep them floating high up above the food! It's hardest to control for anything precise, but has glorious 'hang time.' It's also thin enough to see through slightly, which can make lovely effects.

8mm takes strong arms and shoulders to float well, but is easy to control. It won't stay up as long as the lighter weights, though.

6mm is light enough to float, but manageable. If I toss it up, it takes time to ripple down again. Aaaaahhhhhh.... It's my favorite weight, although a lot of Bhuzzers with more veil experience than I have said they like the 8mm, so YMMV.

The thing about dancing with silk is... it's like a big lung. (Ewww, I know, but wait a sec.) If you sweep a silk veil up and let it float down, it is filled with air like a lung, and it exhales the air. 5 and 6mm is like a long sigh. 8 and 9mm is like you are puffing air out more forcefully. Non-silk veils don't "hold air" in quite the same way.

But the really light silks also don't "sit and stay" the way heavier veils do. If you want a dramatic, sharp discard... well, don't toss a 5mm to the side, because it'll hang for a couple counts before it all gets to the ground. :-D

If you like to use veils for fast, capelike moves, heavier silk is better. I'm addicted to silk, myself, but if I needed a really big piece of something heavier, I might go to the fabric store and shop home dec, because heavier larger pieces of silk get expensive.

A Good Day to Dye

Originally Posted by tigerb

T. If you want a dramatic, sharp discard... well, don't toss a 5mm to the side, because it'll hang for a couple counts before it all gets to the ground. :-D

Yes! I've been experimenting with dancing a little ahead of the music, getting the veil where I want it ahead of the notes, and letting the veil ripple down to the music. Not on the discard, but other accents.

It's fabulous -- when it works!

I've decided to get 8mms. At least it's a step away from my 9mm and I'm going to see how that goes.

I don't think I have enough experience to really manipulate a 6mm veil yet. It's very interesting how different fabric works in dance. World dance New York has a veil primer in the introduction I hear. I just haven't had the funds to spring for it yet. The choreo at the end seems a little to spin-ey too. I think I'd get sick. I wonder if she covers that too...? LOL

Originally Posted by dancerose

World dance New York has a veil primer in the introduction I hear.

There are a number of nice veil videos around:

Amaya's Veil and Arm Dancing
Aziza's Veil with Aziza
Katia's Smooth as Silk

Thanks for the dvd reqs!